CN114728608A

CN114728608A - Vehicle seat air distribution device

Info

Publication number: CN114728608A
Application number: CN202080079176.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马达利纳·奥尼卡; 左然·潘妮科; 阿杰·穆尔戈德
Original assignee: Gentherm Inc
Current assignee: Gentherm Inc
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-15
Publication date: 2022-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-15
Also published as: DE112020006246T5; US20220388432A1; WO2021126813A1; US20240051444A1; CN114728608B; US11833942B2

Abstract

An air distribution device includes a seat pan. The seat pan includes one or more pad engagement features. The one or more cushion engagement features are configured to engage a corresponding one or more panel engagement features disposed on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat.

Description

Vehicle seat air distribution device

Technical Field

The present teachings relate to an air distribution device for connecting a blower to a vehicle seat.

Background

Some vehicle seats include features for improving occupant comfort. For example, some vehicle seats include one or more blowers or fans for moving air toward and/or away from the occupant's vehicle seat.

To further improve occupant comfort while reducing weight and packaging space required, improvements to the prior art may be desirable. For example, it may be desirable to have an air distribution device for connecting a blower to a vehicle seat that includes fewer components relative to other known air distribution devices. It may be desirable for such air distribution devices to be easier to handle and install during vehicle seat assembly than other known air distribution devices.

Disclosure of Invention

The present teachings provide an air distribution device that includes a seat pan. The seat pan includes one or more pad engagement features. The one or more cushion engagement features are configured to engage a corresponding one or more panel engagement features disposed on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat. The one or more cushion engagement features are configured to engage the one or more plate engagement features to directly connect the seat plate and the cushion together.

The present teachings provide an air distribution device or seat pan for connecting a blower to a vehicle seat. The seat pan is configured to be directly attached to a bottom of a back side of a cushion of a vehicle seat. Thus, the distribution device or seat pan according to the present teachings includes fewer components than other known air distribution devices. The distribution device or seat pan according to these teachings is easier to handle during installation of the vehicle seat than other known air distribution devices.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle and a vehicle seat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat.

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the cushion and air distribution device of the vehicle seat.

FIG. 4A is an exploded cross-sectional view of the cushion and air distribution device of the vehicle seat.

Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the air distribution device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the cushion and air distribution device of the vehicle seat.

Figure 6 is a front view of the air distribution device.

Detailed Description

The vehicle as used herein may be any vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a passenger car or truck, a motor home, a train, an airplane, a boat, an off-road vehicle, and the like.

As used herein, a vehicle seat may be any seat or device that may be used to support an occupant or an item. The vehicle seat may include one or more cushions on or against which an occupant may sit or against which items may be stored and/or transported. The vehicle seat may be a front seat (driver and/or passenger seat), a rear seat, a bench, or a combination thereof. Vehicle seats may also be used in non-vehicle applications, such as in a home or office environment. The seat may include a seating portion, a back portion, a headrest portion, or a combination thereof. Two or more of these portions may be combined into a single integral portion (e.g., the seating portion and the backrest portion may be one portion, and the backrest portion and the headrest portion may be one portion). In some configurations, the seating portion, the backrest portion, and the headrest portion may be one portion. In other configurations, the seating portion, the back portion, and the headrest portion may be separate portions that are connected or joined together to form the vehicle seat.

The vehicle seat may include one or more cushions. The cushion may function to support an occupant, an item, or both. The cushion may extend over, against or on top of the vehicle seat. The pad may be made of open cell foam, closed cell foam, or both. The pad may be located under or surrounded by the upholstery or outer layer. The upholstery or outer layer may directly contact the occupant or the article. The upholstery or outer layer may be cloth, leather, plastic, etc. The pad may include one or more holes or air channels to allow air to flow between the a and B sides of the pad. The holes of the pad may have a cross-section that increases or decreases between the top or a-side and the back or bottom or B-side. The air may move in either of the following directions: from side a to side B of the pad, from side B to side a of the pad, or both. The air may be moved by one or more blowers or fans.

The pad includes one or more board engagement features. The one or more pad engagement features are configured to cooperate with a corresponding one or more pad engagement features of the seat pan to directly connect the pad and the seat pan together and maintain the connection between the pad and the seat pan. The one or more pad engagement features are configured to cooperate with the one or more pad engagement features of the seat pan to connect the pad and the seat pan together and maintain a sealed or fluid-resistant or fluid-proof or fluid-tight connection or an air-tight connection between the pad and the seat pan. This means that fluid or air is restricted or prevented from escaping or traveling between one or more pad engagement features and the corresponding engaged plate engagement features. The one or more plate engagement features are configured to cooperate with the one or more pad engagement features of the seat plate to form a labyrinth arrangement.

The one or more panel engagement features may be made of the same material as the pad or of a different material than the rest of the pad. The one or more panel engagement features may be attached to the pad by one or more adhesives or one or more fasteners. For example, one or more board engagement features may be attached to the pad via: welding, push pins, screws or other similar fasteners, adhesive tape such as PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive), etc.

One or more board engagement features may be located at any portion or surface of the mat. For example, one or more board engagement features may be located on the lower surface or B-side of the pad (opposite the upper surface of the pad) or on one or both of the side surfaces of the pad that extend between and connect the lower and upper surfaces of the pad. One or more panel engagement features may be located along an edge or perimeter of the pad, in a middle region or centerline of the pad, or both. One or more panel engagement features may surround a recessed region of the mat configured to receive the blast, the support, or the spacer layer, or both. The plate engagement feature may surround a perimeter of the recessed region. The board engagement feature may be located within a recessed area of the pad.

The one or more board engagement features may be one or more protrusions, hooks, tabs, fingers, forks, bumps, or other similar projections extending away from the B-side, bottom, or lower surface of the pad. The one or more protrusions may have any shape, for example: a flat or planar top, a dome or curved top, a mushroom or horn top; flat, planar or tapered sides, rounded sides; one or more undercuts, hooks, prongs, fingers, or teeth that bite into the plate or pad engagement features.

The one or more panel engagement features may be one or more voids, holes, apertures, recesses, reliefs, undercuts, or any combination thereof. The one or more recesses may have any shape, for example: flat or planar bases, dome or curved bases, mushroom or horn bases; flat, planar or tapered sides, rounded sides; one or more undercuts, hooks, or teeth that bite into the plate engagement features.

The air distribution system may be used to deliver air toward, direct air toward, or remove air from a vehicle seat or occupant. The air distribution system may be located anywhere in the vehicle, but is preferably located in, below or behind the cushion, the buttocks, the seating portion, the back portion or a combination thereof. The air distribution system may include one or more plenums, one or more seat pans, or both. The air distribution system may be configured to attach directly to the bottom or back of the cushion of the vehicle seat.

One or more adhesives may be disposed between one or more features of the seat plate and one or more features of the cushion to directly connect or attach the seat plate and the cushion. Adhesives may be used to bond or join together seat pan to cushion, spacer layer to pan, blast and pan, or combinations thereof. The adhesive may be virtually any suitable adhesive. For example, the adhesive may be a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA), a resin, a hot melt adhesive, an epoxy, a hot glue, a spray adhesive, a polyurethane, a tape, a double-sided tape, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the adhesive is used to provide a fluid-tight or fluid-resistant seal to prevent air from leaking or flowing between the joints or contact areas of the seat plate and the cushion, the blast and the seat plate, or a combination thereof. In some configurations, the adhesive may primarily function to provide a fluid-tight or fluid-resistant seal, and less so to bond or join the seat pan to the cushion, the spacer layer to the pan, the blast portion to the pan, or combinations thereof.

The air distribution system may include one or more partitions or spacers. One or more partitions or spacers may function to move, deflect, direct, and/or distribute the air flow. The one or more spacer layers may prevent the one or more blasts from being squeezed when an occupant or load is in or near the cushion or vehicle seat. One or more spacers or distance layers may prevent deflection of the cushion, air distribution device, seat pan, or a combination thereof such that air flow between the cushion and the blast portion is neither restricted nor blocked. One or more spacers or distance layers may be received by cavities, recesses or openings defined in the cushion and/or seat pan. One or more of the spacers or spacer layers may be made of a resilient, flexible, soft, resilient and/or supportive material such as rubber, silicon, foam, cellulose, fabric, paper, and the like. The one or more spacers or distance layers may include one or more baffles, ribs, protrusions, bumps, meshes, or other 3D structures. One or more spacers or spacing layers may be similar to the spacers disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent No. 8,777,320B2, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The air distribution system may include one or more plenums. The one or more blasts can be connected to one or more apertures defined in the seat pan. The blower portion may be attached to the seat pan by one or more adhesives or one or more snap rings. The blower portion may be any device or combination of devices configured or operable to move air. The blast section may increase the flow, velocity, or rate of the air. The blast section may reduce the flow, velocity, or rate of the air. The blowing part may be a fan. The blowing portion may be a radial fan. The blowing portion may be an axial flow fan. The blower may direct air from one or more air sources. The one or more air sources may be a heat source providing warm air, a heat sink providing cool air, or an ambient air source providing air at substantially the same temperature as the cabin of the vehicle.

The air distribution system may include one or more air seat pans. The seat pan may function as a cushion connecting the blower portion to the vehicle seat and assist in carrying air through the cushion. The seat pan may be a rigid structure or a flexible structure. The seat pan may be made of or include: polypropylene, polymers, plastics, metals, thermosets, elastomers, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), combinations thereof, or other gas impermeable materials. The seat pan may be vacuum formed, injection molded, fabricated in one piece, or a combination thereof. The seat pan may be made of the same material as the cushion or of a different material. The seat pan may be a metal stamping. The seat pan may be part of a seat frame. The seat pan may be a seat frame secured to the floor of the vehicle. The seat frame may be part of the suspension of the seat. The suspension may comprise one or more springs or flexible wires. The seat plate may be 3D printed using plastic, metal, or both. The seat pan may be a flexible substrate, a pocket, a portion of a pocket, or a combination thereof. The seat pan may be a single piece or comprise multiple pieces attached together. The seat pan may include one or more baffles, spacers, or spacers to help direct or deflect air and/or to prevent pinching or blocking of the outlet or inlet of the blast section. The seat pan may not have a top surface or layer. After the cushion and seat pan are connected together by one or more cushion and pan engagement features, the bottom or rear surface of the cushion can form or serve as a top surface or layer to cover the seat pan.

The seat pan includes one or more pad engagement features. The one or more cushion engagement features are configured to cooperate with a corresponding one or more plate engagement features of the cushion to directly connect the cushion and the seat plate together and maintain the connection between the cushion and the seat plate. The one or more pad engagement features are configured to cooperate with the one or more plate engagement features of the cushion to connect the cushion and seat plate together and maintain a sealed or fluid-resistant or fluid-proof or fluid-tight connection or air-tight connection between the cushion and seat plate. This means that fluid or air is restricted or prevented from escaping or traveling between one or more pad engagement features and the corresponding engaged plate engagement features.

The one or more pad engagement features may be made or fabricated from the same material as the seat pan. The one or more pad engagement features may be attached to the seat pan by one or more adhesives or one or more fasteners. For example, one or more pad engagement features may be attached to the seat pan via: welding, push pins, screws, glue, tape or other similar fasteners or adhesives, and the like.

One or more pad engagement features may be located at any portion or surface of the seat pan. One or more pad engagement features may be located along an edge or perimeter of the pad, in a mid-region or centerline of the seat pan, or both. One or more pad engagement features may be located within or within a recessed area of a spacer or spacer layer of the seat pan. In some constructions, the spacers or the distance layer may include the one or more pad engagement features when the distance layer is formed integrally with or attached to the seat pan in a subsequent step.

The one or more pad engagement features may be one or more voids, holes, apertures, recesses, reliefs, undercuts, or any combination thereof. The one or more recesses may have any shape, such as, for example: flat or planar bottoms, domed or curved bottoms, mushroom or horn bottoms; flat, planar or tapered sides, rounded sides; one or more undercuts, hooks, or teeth that bite into the plate engagement features.

The one or more pad engagement features may be one or more protrusions, hooks, tabs, fingers, forks, bumps, or other similar projections extending away from the seat plate. The one or more protrusions may have any shape, for example: a flat or planar top, a dome or curved top, a mushroom or horn top; flat, planar or tapered sides, rounded sides; one or more undercuts, hooks, or teeth that bite into the plate engagement features.

It should be understood that any of the features, elements, components, portions, embodiments disclosed and/or illustrated herein may be duplicated, omitted, combined with other features and embodiments, or combinations thereof. Further, it should be understood that a vehicle seat, a distribution system, and/or any other assembly or subassembly may be made by combining any of the elements, features, and/or components disclosed herein.

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes at least one vehicle seat 12. The vehicle seat 12 includes a seating portion 14 and a back portion 16.

Fig. 2 shows the vehicle seat 12. Each of the seating portion 14 and the backrest portion 16 includes a cushion 18. The pad 18 includes a top or a side a and an opposite bottom or B side B. The air distribution device 100 may be associated with or may be connected to one or both of the cushions 18. The vehicle seat 12 may include one or more air distribution devices 100. The air distribution device 100 may be connected or attached to the back or B-side B of the cushion 18 of the seating portion 14, the back or B-side of the cushion of the back portion 16, or both. However, it should be understood that the vehicle seat 12 may include one air distribution device 100 in only one of the plurality of cushions 18 or may have one air distribution device 100 attached to both cushions 18.

Fig. 3 and 4A show a cross-section of the cushion 18 of one or both of the seating portion 14 and the backrest portion 16 of the vehicle seat 12. The pad 18 may be at least partially covered or surrounded by a trim cover or outer layer 20. The pad 18 includes one or more air channels 22 that extend at least partially through the thickness of the pad 18 between the bottom or B-side B of the pad 18 and the top or a-side a of the pad 18. The pad 18 includes one or more recessed regions 34. The recessed region 34 may be located at a central region of the pad and between the pads 32 of the pads on opposite sides. However, in some configurations, the recessed region 34 may be offset relative to the centerline 30 of the pad 18 and disposed closer to the pad of the pad on one side than the pad 32 of the pad on the other side. The recessed region 34 may be centered in the forward-to-rearward direction (or fore-to-aft direction) of the pad. In other configurations, the recessed region 34 may be offset or moved to a lesser distance from the forward direction than the rearward direction, or vice versa. In other constructions, the pad 18 may include a plurality of recessed regions. The air channels 22 may be located in the recessed area 34 and/or in the area of the pad's cushion 32. The recessed region 34 may be configured to provide a region that accepts one or more features of the seat 12, such as one or more spacer layers 118, discussed further below. The recessed region 34 may provide or define a spacing and/or gap between the bottom side of the cushion 18 and an opening 114 defined in the seat pan 102 (which is also discussed further below) such that the aperture 114 and/or the blower 116 are not obstructed or blocked when the cushion 18 is compressed, twisted or deflected after an occupant or object or other load acts on the cushion 18 from the a-side a. The aforementioned spacing or gap may be defined in, at, or between an area of the cushion 34 or the recessed area 34 of the cushion 34 and the seat pan 102 or the recessed area 112 of the seat pan 102. The spacing or gap between these features may define one or more air distribution channels 113.

One or more air distribution channels 113 (see, e.g., fig. 5) may be formed or defined after the seat pan 102 is engaged or connected with the cushion 34. In other words, one or more air distribution channels 113 may be defined or formed between one or more pad engagement features 104 (described below) after they are engaged or connected to or with a corresponding one or more board engagement features 24 (also described below). One or more air distribution channels 113 may provide a zone or area for distributing air supplied by blower 116 to or along the bottom region of the mat 18 and ultimately to one or more air channels 22. The one or more air distribution channels 113 may be one large channel or space. Alternatively, the one or more air distribution channels 113 may be a plurality of channels or spaces defined or separated by vanes, ribs, protrusions, partitions or partitions 118, or the like, which may function to direct or direct air flow directly from the blower 116 to the corresponding air channels 22. When operating in the air intake mode, one or more ribs, protrusions, partitions or partitions 118, etc. may function to direct or direct the air flow from the air passage 22 directly to the blower 116. The one or more air distribution channels 113 may also provide sufficient spacing between the blower portion 116 and the bottom of the cushion 18 so that when a load or occupant is positioned on the cushion 18, the cushion 18 does not contact or block the apertures 114, which may undesirably block air from flowing into or out of the blower portion 114.

The pad 18 includes one or more board engagement features 24. The board engagement feature 24 may be a protrusion that protrudes or extends away from the B-side of the pad 18. The plate engagement feature 24 may be defined by a generally flat or planar top surface 26 (fig. 3) or a generally dome or curved top surface 26 (fig. 4). In other configurations, the panel engagement feature 24 may have any shape or feature disclosed herein. The board engagement feature 24 may have a sidewall 28 extending away from the B-side of the pad 18. The sidewall 28 may be generally planar or tapered (fig. 3), or the sidewall 28 may be generally dome-shaped or curved (fig. 4). In some configurations, the flat-topped protrusion 26 (fig. 3) may include rounded or curved sidewalls 28 (fig. 4) and/or the rounded or curved top 26 (fig. 4) may include planar or tapered sidewalls 28 (fig. 3). In some configurations, one or more of the plate engagement features 24 of fig. 3 may be combined with one or more of the plate engagement features 24 of fig. 4 or disclosed herein. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for the pad to include one or more plate engagement features 24 from fig. 3 and 4A, 4B.

The air distribution device 100 includes a seat pan 102. The seat pan 102 includes one or more pad engagement features 104 configured to connect and/or engage with one or more pan engagement features 24 disposed on the pad 18 to directly attach or connect the air distribution device 100 to the pad 18.

The pad engagement feature 104 may include one or more recesses. The pad engagement feature 104 may be defined by a generally flat bottom surface 106 (fig. 3) or a generally dome-shaped or curved bottom surface 106 (fig. 4). Pad engagement feature 104 may include a sidewall 108 that is generally planar or tapered (fig. 3) or generally dome-shaped or curved (fig. 4). In some configurations, the flat-bottomed recess 106 (fig. 3) may include rounded or curved sidewalls 108 (fig. 4) and/or the rounded or curved bottom 106 (fig. 4) may include planar or tapered sidewalls 108 (fig. 3). In some configurations, one or more of the pad engagement features 104 of fig. 3 may be combined with one or more of the pad engagement features 104 of fig. 4. One or more pad engagement features 104 may be located near an edge 120 of the seat pan 102. One or more pad engagement features 104 may be positioned adjacent an outer edge or perimeter of the seat pan. One or more pad engagement features 104 may be located at or near one or more recessed regions 112. In such a configuration where the one or more cushion engagement features 104 are located at or in one or more recessed regions 112 of the seat pan 102, the one or more cushion engagement features 104 may serve a variety of functions including connecting the seat pan to the cushion and providing structure, walls, or dividers that define the one or more air distribution channels 113 discussed above to help direct air flow into and out of the blast section 116.

The air distribution device 100 may include one or more adhesives 110. One or more adhesives 110 may be disposed between the cushion 18 and the seat pan 102 to enable and maintain a direct connection between the retention cushion 18 and the seat pan 102. One or more adhesives 110 may be disposed in the region where one or more board engagement features 24 engage one or more pad engagement features 104 (i.e., in the bottom surface, sidewalls, top/etc.). In some constructions, one or more fasteners (e.g., pins, hook and loop fasteners, screws, rivets), glue, etc. may be used in addition to or in place of the adhesive 110 to connect the cushion 18 and the seat pan 102 together.

The seat pan 102 includes a recessed area 112 and an aperture 114. The aperture 114 may be located in the recessed region 112 or outside the recessed region 112. The recessed area is configured to engage or connect one or more of the blast portions 116 to the seat pan 102. The recessed area 112 may be located at any portion of the seat pan 102. Preferably, the recessed regions 112 are located between or within the pad engagement features 104. The recessed region 112 is configured to provide a region for fluid to be distributed to one or more air channels 22 defined in the cushion 18 so that air may be distributed toward a passenger seated on the cushion 18 or seat 12. The recessed region 112 may include one or more partitions or partitions 118. The one or more partitions or spacers 118 may be attached to the seat plate 102 by one or more adhesives or one or more fasteners, or the one or more partitions or spacers 118 may be molded or manufactured with (i.e., molded together, co-molded, insert molded, etc.) the seat plate 102. One or more partitions or spacers 118 may be configured to limit or prevent the B-side of the cushion 18 from collapsing, blocking, or otherwise obstructing the aperture 114 and/or the blower 116 when an occupant is seated or rested on the cushion 18. One or more partitions or partitions 118 may be configured to direct the airflow provided by the blower portion 116 to one or more air channels 22 defined in the cushion 18.

The aperture 114 and/or the blower portion 116 may be offset to one side of the central axis 30 of the mat 18 (fig. 3), or the aperture 114 and/or the blower portion 116 may be generally aligned with the central axis 30 of the mat 18 (fig. 4). The seat pan 102 may include more than one aperture 114 and blower 116 for pushing or moving air into the air passage 22 and toward an occupant in or near the seat 12, or drawing air in or out of the air passage 22 and away from an occupant in or near the seat 12. When operating in the push-air mode, the air may be conditioned (i.e., warmer or cooler than ambient air in the cabin of the vehicle 12) or the air may be ambient air as the air is moved by the blower 116 toward an occupant in or near the seat 12.

During assembly of the vehicle seat 12 and/or one or both of the seating portion 14 and the back portion 16, the seat pan 102 may be brought into proximity with the cushion 18 such that the one or more cushion engagement features 104 are aligned with the one or more pan engagement features 24. The engagement features 24, 104 then contact each other such that the plate engagement feature 24 mates with or engages the plate engagement feature 104. The connection between the engagement features 24, 104 may be a snap or interference fit connection. One or more adhesives 110 may be provided in the area of the engagement features 24, 104 to help create and/or maintain a connection between the seat pan 102 and the cushion 18. After engagement of the engagement features 24, 104, a fluid-tight connection may be made between the cushion 18 and the seat plate 102, which may advantageously limit or prevent air moving through the blast 116 from leaking or flowing between the cushion 18 and the seat plate 102. One or more adhesives 110 may be used to further facilitate a fluid-tight seal or connection between the cushion 18 and the seat pan 102. Thus, air moving through the blast 116 passes through the aperture 114, the recessed area 112, and one or more air passages 22 in the cushion 18 in a direction toward or away from an occupant of the seat 12.

The seat pan 102 of fig. 3 and/or 4A has a variable or non-uniform cross-section or thickness along its length or width (as compared to the seat pan 102 of fig. 4B discussed below). For example, the seat pan 102 of fig. 3 and/or 4A may have one or more thicker and thinner regions extending along the length or width of the pan 102. The thicker region may be a stabilizing region 119 that may function to stabilize or reinforce the seat pan 102, cushion, seat, or a combination thereof. The stabilization region 119 may be used in one or more regions of the pad engagement feature 104 or may be advantageous to limit or prevent the engagement feature 104 and/or the plate 102 from twisting, bending, and/or buckling, which may provide assistance during mounting of the plate 102 to the pad 18. The stabilizing region 119 may also help maintain the connection between the plate 102 and the pad 18. The thicker or stable regions may be located anywhere on the panel 102, including in the recessed region 112 to support the spacing layer 118, the blower 116, or both.

The thickness or cross-section of the seat pan 102 may be substantially thinner or less than the thickness or cross-section of the cushion. However, in some configurations, the thickness or cross-section of the seat plate may be substantially the same as, or even thicker or greater than, the thickness or cross-section of the cushion.

Figure 4B shows another air distribution device 100 that includes a seat pan 102. The seat pan 102 of FIG. 4B has many of the features described above and below, and therefore similar features will not be repeated. However, it should be understood that any one or more of the features of the seat pan described herein can be incorporated into the version shown and described in fig. 4B, and any one or more of the features shown and described in fig. 4B can be incorporated into any of the other seat pans shown and described herein. In other words, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the cushion, seat pan, or assembly may be constructed by selecting and selecting any one or more of the elements shown and/or disclosed herein. In addition, one or more of the elements or features shown and/or disclosed herein may be combined with other features disclosed herein, may be duplicated, eliminated, moved, or repositioned, or a combination thereof.

The seat pan 102 of figure 4B has a generally or substantially uniform or constant thickness or cross-section extending along the entire width and/or length of the pan 102 or between them (e.g., between the edges 122, 124). In the vehicle position, the

edges

122, 124 may be arranged side-by-side (i.e., cross-car direction) and/or may be arranged fore-aft (i.e., forward-aft direction). The seat plate 102 has a substantially uniform or constant thickness and/or cross-section, and the plate 102 may be configured to bend, or otherwise be movable, formable, and/or deformable to facilitate assembly of the plate 102 to the seat cushion 18. For example, due to tolerance variations in the seat plate 102, cushion engagement features 24, cushions 18, plate engagement features 24, and the like, the movable, shaped, and/or at least partially deformed/twisted seat plate 102 may provide assistance during vehicle seat assembly, particularly during alignment and attachment of the engagement features 24, 104.

The seat pan 102 may also include one or more bend features 126. The bend feature 126 functions to assist in the movement, shaping, deformation, and/or distortion of the panel 102. For example, during installation and/or assembly of the cushion 18 or vehicle seat 12, it may be desirable to be able to at least partially bend or flex one or more regions or areas of the seat plate 102 to help engage the cushion engagement features 104 with the plate engagement features 24 of the cushion 18. Thus, the bend feature 126 may be disposed in or at the area of the pad engagement feature 104. However, the bend feature 126 may be located at any location on the plate 102. Additionally or alternatively, one or more bending features 126 may help to provide the plate 102 to be bent or bent to accommodate movement of the cushion 18 that may occur when a weight (i.e., occupant and/or item in the vehicle seat 12) is provided on the cushion 18. The one or more bending features 126 may be notches, recesses, thinned sections, springs, metal, plastic, rubber, and/or living hinges defined in the seat pan 102. The one or more bending regions 126 may be a flexible or biasable material disposed in certain areas of the seat plate 102, while other areas of the seat plate 102 may be made or fabricated from other stiffer or less flexible materials.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the cushion 18 of either or both of the seating portion 14 and the backrest portion 16 of the vehicle seat 12. The pad 18 includes one or more air channels 22 that extend at least partially through the thickness of the pad 18 between the bottom or B-side B of the pad 18 and the top or a-side a of the pad 18.

The pad 18 includes one or more plate engagement features 24. The plate engagement feature 24 may be a recess, groove, or indent defined in the pad 18 and extending laterally outward into the pad 18 away from a central axis 30 of the pad. The plate engagement feature 24 (i.e., recess, groove, or notch) may have walls that are generally flat, planar, tapered, or curved.

The air distribution device 100 includes a seat pan 102. The seat pan 102 includes one or more pad engagement features 104 configured to engage one or more pan engagement features 24 defined in the pad 18 to attach or connect the air distribution device 100 to the pad 18. The one or more pad engagement features 104 may also be protrusions or tabs extending from the seat plate 102 in a direction away from the central axis 30 of the pad 18. The pad engagement features 104 or protrusions include surfaces that are complementary to the plate engagement features 24 of the pad 18.

The air distribution device 100 includes an aperture 114, a blast section 116, and one or more partitions or partitions 118, as described above in fig. 3 and 4A, 4B.

With continued reference to fig. 5, during assembly of the vehicle seat 12 and/or one or both of the seating portion 14 and the back portion 16, the seat pan 102 approaches the cushion 18 such that the cushion engagement features 104 of the seat pan 102 can slide into the pan engagement features 24 of the cushion 18. For example, assuming that the bolster 18 is disposed horizontally on a table, the seat pan 102 may be moved horizontally such that the bolster engagement features 24 slide into the pan engagement features 24 of the bolster 18. Alternatively, the cushion 18 may be moved horizontally such that the plate engagement feature 104 slides along or onto the cushion engagement feature 104 of the seat plate 102. Alternatively, the pad or edge region 32 of the pad 18 may move, deflect, deform, or move or push away from the central axis 30 of the pad 18, and the pad engagement feature 104 may be bent, snapped, or placed into the plate engagement feature 24 of the pad 18. After the cushion or edge regions 32 of the cushion 18 are unconstrained, those portions 32 move back toward the central axis 30, thus retaining or fixing the cushion engagement features of the seat plate 102. One or more adhesives (not shown) may be disposed between or within the areas of the engagement features 24, 104 to further facilitate a fluid-tight seal or connection between the cushion 18 and the seat pan 102. During use, air moving through the blower 116 passes through the apertures 114 and one or more air passages 22 in the cushion 18 in a direction toward or away from an occupant of the seat 12.

Figure 6 shows another air distribution system 100. The air distribution device 100 includes a seat pan 200 that includes a surface 202 configured to be disposed at side B of the cushion 18. The surface 202 may have a first region 204 and a second region 206 surrounding the first region 204. The first region 204 may be a recessed region (similar to the recessed region 112) surrounded by a region 206 elevated relative to the recessed region 204. Each

region

204, 206 may be covered with an adhesive 208, 208'. The adhesive 208, 208' may be a pressure sensitive adhesive PSA having surface sides adhered or attached to the

respective regions

204, 206 of the seat pan 200. The opposite side of the adhesive 208, 208 'may be covered with a removable cover layer 210, 210'. The first region 204 or recessed region may include a hole or opening 207. During assembly of the seat plate 200, the blast portion 212 may be attached to a hole or opening 207 in the seat plate 200 in the area of the recessed region or first zone 204 and secured to the seat plate 200 via a snap ring 209 or other suitable fastener or mounting device. The cover layer 210 may be removed from the first zone 204 and one or more partitions, or spacer layers (like those shown and described in fig. 3 and elements 118 of fig. 4A, 4B) may be pressed down onto the adhesive 208 to attach the one or more partitions, or spacer layers to the seat pan 200. The cover layer 210 'may then be removed, thus exposing the adhesive 208' in the region 206, and the seat pan 102 may be brought into contact with and pressed against side B of the cushion 18 to adhere the region 206 of the seat pan 200 to side B of the cushion 18.

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use.

Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the invention as set forth are not intended as exclusive or limiting teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to this description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is shown herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be construed that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

Multiple elements or steps may be provided by a single integrated element or step. Alternatively, a single element or step may be divided into separate plural elements or steps.

The use of "a" or "an" in this disclosure to describe an element or step is not intended to exclude other elements or steps.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerically denoted terms, when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated to the contrary by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings.

Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

All articles and references, including patent applications and publications, in this disclosure are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Other combinations are possible as long as they can be derived from the appended claims, which are also incorporated by reference into this written description.

Claims

1. An air distribution device comprising:

a seat pan comprising one or more cushion engagement features configured to engage corresponding one or more pan engagement features provided on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat to define an air distribution channel, the seat pan further comprising an aperture and a blast portion connected to the seat pan at the aperture.

2. The air distribution device of claim 1, wherein the one or more pad engagement features comprise a recess.

3. The air distribution device of claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the recess is substantially planar.

4. The air distribution device of claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the recess is rounded.

5. The air distribution device of any of claims 1-4, wherein the one or more plate engagement features comprise a protrusion.

6. The air distribution device of any of claims 1-5, wherein the one or more cushion engagement features are proximate an edge of the seat pan.

7. The air distribution device of any of claims 1-6, wherein a portion of the seat pan spaced from the cushion engagement feature defines a portion of the air distribution channel.

8. The air distribution device of claim 7, wherein a portion of the seat pan defining a portion of the air distribution channel extends over a recessed area in a seat cushion.

9. The air distribution device of claim 8, further comprising a spacer layer at least partially disposed in the recessed area and spaced apart from one another.

10. The air distribution device of any of claims 1-9, wherein an adhesive is disposed between the seat pan and the cushion.

11. The air distribution device of claim 10, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

12. The air distribution device of any of claims 1-11, wherein the seat pan comprises a recessed region defined between two or more of the pad engagement features.

13. The air distribution device of claim 12, wherein the recessed area includes the holes for connecting the blast sections.

14. A method of attaching the seat pan of an air distribution device of any preceding claim to the seat pan of a vehicle seat, the method comprising removing a cover layer and adhering the seat pan directly to a bottom surface of the seat pan by adhesive.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises removing a further cover layer on the seat pan and adhering a spacer layer directly to the seat pan prior to the step of adhering the seat pan directly to the bottom surface of the bolster.